Novellas

Dear Ruth,

I’m not in the mood for Christmas. After a romantic relationship went up in flames, I returned to my hometown in rural Kansas. Then my mother passed away. I’m really busy with my job as fire marshal—and now with my mother’s advice column, which I reluctantly took over. There’s a sexy newcomer down the street, a guy with a young daughter and an unfortunate disregard for fire safety. He seems to want to be friends, but that creates problems that may be too hot for me to handle. The last things I need right now are flammable holiday decorations and too much holiday food. How am I supposed to give good advice to others when I can’t seem to get my own life straight?

—Bah Humbug in Bailey Springs

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar "Stocking Stuffers."

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Every time it seems like things are looking up for Eugene Kraft, disaster hits. Bankruptcy, a bigoted sibling, and a back-breaking accident have all left him with little money and less faith in the universe.

His last-ditch effort at peace is the small lakeside property where he is building a tiny house from recycled materials. If he can get it livable before the cold sets in, maybe he’ll be okay. Hopefully Cullen, the foreman on the construction site next door, won’t notice Eugene pilfering discarded materials from his dumpster.

When Cullen stops by to talk to Eugene, he’s sure the gig is up—but all Cullen wants is a date. Can two things go right in Eugene’s life? At first it seems possible. Projects on Eugene’s house are getting completed by what he dubs “construction elves” while he’s off site. But like Eugene predicted, his good fortune can’t last, and soon he has a tough choice to make: give up his home… or the man of his dreams.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar "Stocking Stuffers."

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Ever since ghostwriter Jason Burke ended up in loco parentis for his orphaned niece, Mallory, he’s been trying. He goes to parent/teacher events, and he makes packed lunches, so he definitely didn’t mean to forget about Christmas. He just hasn’t celebrated it since he left home under a cloud years ago.

Put on the spot, Jason makes the snap decision to take Mallory to see where he and her father spent their Christmases as kids. The last thing he expects is to run into Tommy, his ex—ex-best friend, ex-boyfriend—who is still living in town… and working as a sheriff’s deputy.

It’s hard to avoid someone in a small town—and maybe Jason doesn’t want to. He got Mallory a Christmas, and maybe now it’s time to get himself a Christmas boyfriend. But first, he owes Tommy some explanations.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar "Stocking Stuffers."

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Craft store owner Grant has always been a sucker for a pretty face, and that goes double for a pretty face with an adorable sidekick. When seven-year-old Aubrey has her heart set on taking Grant’s already-full holiday craft series, he caves and gives up his one day off a week so she (and her hot guardian, Josh) can take private lessons. Their flirting ramps up week after week, and even though Josh isn’t with Aubrey’s mother, Grant can’t be sure the man isn’t straight. Maybe he’s just being friendly. And Josh, who most definitely is not straight, is afraid of being the creepy guy hitting on the teacher.

Frustrated by their stubbornness and cluelessness, Aubrey takes matters into her own hands. She decides the best gift to give Josh is something homemade and from the heart—a boyfriend they’ll both love.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar "Stocking Stuffers."

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Coda, numéro hors série
Suite de La lettre Z

Zach Mitchell et son amant Angelo Green sont en route pour Paris – en compagnie de leurs amis de Coda Matt et Jared – afin d’assister au mariage de Jon et Cole. Matt devra faire face à l’ex-amant de Jared et Angelo devra passer toute une semaine avec l’ex-petit ami de Zach. Entre la jalousie de Matt et le mauvais caractère d’Angelo, Zach se dit qu’ils auront de la chance qu’ils passent la semaine sans que l’un des fiancés se retrouve avec un bon œil au beurre noir. Mais très vite, Zach se rend compte qu’il devrait moins s’inquiéter d’Angelo et plus de lui-même. Affronter ses souvenirs doux-amers et son sentiment de culpabilité d’avoir brisé le cœur de Jon est plus difficile que prévu. Mais s’il veut un avenir avec Angelo, Zach devra trouver le moyen de surmonter son passé.

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Sean and Nick’s life together was a fairy tale: childhood friends who became lovers, high school sweethearts who married after college, both handsome professionals. Sean always enjoyed a few drinks, but after the death of his father, his alcoholism spiraled out of control… and it cost him everything.

When Sean loses his job and becomes too surly and unreasonable to live with, Nick has little choice but to end the relationship. Sean can’t blame Nick for giving up—not after the arguments and the lies—but he longs for the happiness and love they shared before he spoiled everything. He resolves to get sober and win back his husband. But even if he wins his battle with alcoholism, will it be too late to save his marriage?

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

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Eine Geschichte aus dem Kuriosen Kochbuch

Boone Walton hat sich alle erdenkliche Mühe gegeben, seine Vergangenheit hinter sich zu lassen. Er lebt jetzt nur noch für seine Kunstgalerie in New Orleans und seine Freundschaft mit Scott Wren. Alles scheint sich langsam zu normalisieren und wieder in geregelten Bahnen zu verlaufen. Boone könnte nicht glücklicher sein.

Scott Wren, ein junger Koch und Restaurantbesitzer, möchte mehr als Freundschaft. Er will eine echte Beziehung zu Boone, doch der hat davor eine Heidenangst. Und das liegt nicht nur an dem Geist, der in Scotts Wohnung herumspukt. Es liegt auch nicht an Scotts Familie. Nein, es liegt daran, dass Boones Vergangenheit ihm einen unerwarteten Besuch abstattet. Es gibt eigentlich nichts, was sich zwischen Boone, Scott und die Mousse au Chocolate drängen kann, deren Rezept Scott in einem kuriosen, alten Kochbuch gefunden hat. Nichts, bis auf das Meer des Leidens, das Boone überqueren musste, um im Big Easy ein neues Leben zu beginnen. Doch das Rezept hat eine geheime Zutat, die in Boone ein Vertrauen und eine Liebe weckt, wie er sie bisher noch nie erfahren hat.

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What happens when the man is as tempting as the money? 

Remy Delacour’s family doesn’t believe in mainstream medicine, and when Remy’s boyfriend reveals that Remy is majoring in nursing, they cut him off. He has to find money to finish his education—fast. And he is so done with boyfriends. 

Levi Aronson met the guy of his dreams and followed him to Australia. He knew the chances for a lasting romance were slim—and boy, was he right. Now he’s back in Canada, a year behind in his university program, and short of funds. He needs money, not another man. 

Tree planting is a way to make a lot of money fast, but it’s one of the hardest jobs in the world. When Levi, an experienced planter, sees pretty, sloe-eyed Remy, Levi is certain he’ll never last. 

They’ll have to pry Remy’s shovel from his cold, stiff fingers, because he won’t quit—or let anything take his eyes off the prize. When a storm brings Remy and Levi together, each finds the other a distraction from the big goal. But can anything develop between two men who have sworn off relationships?

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

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Opposites might attract, but is acting on that attraction wise? 

Librarian Tristan Cooper can’t steer clear of sexy, motorcycle-riding bad boy Phillip—the man is hot—but Phillip is bound to find quiet, bookish Tristan boring, like all Tristan’s boyfriends. Tristan yearns to explore his wild side, the part of himself he’s only allowed into his fantasies, and maybe rakish Phillip is just what he needs to feel free. 

Sexperienced hairdresser Phillip is more of a believer in happy endings than happily ever afters. Experience has taught him not to hope for more—until he meets sweet, vulnerable Tristan, who seems genuinely interested in his heart. But Phillip can’t trust enough to see himself as a man Tristan might want for more than a night. 

With the help of a pair of matchmaking grandfathers, Tristan and Phillip might find the courage to step beyond their comfort zones and discover what has been missing from their lives….

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Twenty-one-year-old Mason has to get out of his mother’s house, where her boyfriend subjects him to unwanted advances—and won’t take no for an answer. Since she didn’t believe Mason when he told her about his uncle’s sexual abuse, Mason knows he’s on his own, and it’s up to him to raise the money he needs. He thinks he’s in luck when he takes a modeling job. 

Oliver is a photographer, and getting guys and sex has always been easy for him. His current open relationship is no exception: more friendship and fun than anything. But when Oliver meets Mason, he can see the younger man is fragile and desperately in need of help. Before anything can develop between them, Mason needs to free himself of his terrible living situation and start on the road to healing. Oliver wants to stand beside him as he does. What surprises him is the discovery that he might need Mason as much as Mason needs him.

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A Before… and After Story

It was only a game. Wasn’t it?

At a party one night, Charlie Dean’s childhood friend Will Tucker accepts a dare and dresses up as a girl: clothes, hair, makeup. Seeing Will that way incites a riot of confused emotions in Charlie—and he responds by lashing out. He never meant to hurt Will, and now he must do some serious damage control.

During a school trip by train, Charlie and Will share a sleeper cabin. Charlie intends to mend fences, while Will figures it’s as good a time as any to broach the subjects of attraction and sexuality. They want to get their relationship back on track. But after the secrets they both reveal, their friendship can never be the same.

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Hope can be found in unexpected places.

Lonely, still struggling with his divorce, and suffering from writer’s block, successful thriller author Fred spends much more time in an all-night Denny’s than is healthy for any man. It’s the last place he thought he’d meet someone like Callum, who has literally run away from the internationally famous boy band Leos.

Despite their age difference, the two become friends, and their long nights of soul-searching might help them find the courage to face their problems: Fred’s deteriorating relationship with his daughter and Callum’s career issues. It’s easy for their lives to tangle together, and each might provide the other the means to move beyond the past—even if it’s not a journey they can take together.

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Les Gardiens des Abysses, numéro hors série

Marcus Roth est un grand avocat criminel le jour et un gardien, tueur de démons, la nuit, cependant il n’est qu’un des cinq gardiens… sans réelle importance pour quiconque, hormis Joseph Locke, son foyer. Du moins, c’est ce que croit Marcus, à tort.

Lors d’un voyage à Lexington, dans le Kentucky, pour célébrer l’anniversaire du grand-père de Joe, cette conviction change quand Marcus découvre involontairement une implication paranormale et finit par révéler son identité de gardien à la famille de Joe. Faisant face à un traître, à des démons et au retour d’un vieil ennemi, Marcus doit mettre ses propres désirs de côté pour sauver ses amis – même si, en agissant ainsi, il risque de perdre l’homme qu’il aime inconditionnellement. Toutefois, survivre à l’épreuve pourrait ne pas suffire, si Marcus ne peut pas se pardonner et apprendre que son foyer, et le reste de son poing armé, ne peut pas se passer de lui.

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Il paradiso può diventare un inferno.

Per molti, rimanere bloccati a Ibiza, nella villa dell’armatore Miguel García Arquero, non sarebbe poi una tragedia. Ma Hudson Barber non la pensa così. Per lui, ritrovarsi senza passaporto, in un paese straniero tanto lontano da casa, è un incubo, reso peggiore dal fatto che ne è responsabile il suo inaffidabile gemello.

Non volendo denunciare Dalvon per furto d’identità, Hudson è costretto ad aspettare, e ne approfitta per occuparsi di alcune attività di Miguel che, a causa dell’inesperienza del fratello, sono sull’orlo del fallimento. Quegli affari in perdita sono però un dono dal cielo, perché se riuscisse a riportarle in attivo, Hudson potrebbe sfruttare quell’esperienza per finire il suo master in gestione d’impresa.

Quando Miguel torna a Ibiza, invece di trovare un toy boy scopre che Hudson ha trasformato la sua fredda villa in una casa calda e accogliente. Per Miguel non ci sono dubbi: deve convincere Hudson ad abbassare le sue difese per accogliere l’amore.

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Ein Titel der Seitenwechsel Serie

Eine doppelte Dosis Alphamann kann doch nicht schaden, oder?

David Underwood ist gerade erst einer Beziehung zu einem gewalttätigen Alphamann entkommen, da fällt sein Blick auf zwei heiße Mitglieder der australischen Beachvolleyball-Mannschaft, die am Strand von Laguna Beach Volleyball spielen. Und prompt muss er sich deren Beleidigungen anhören. Trotzdem erliegt er dem Charme von Gareth Marshall, der sich Davids wegen vor seinem Team outet. Nur einer macht ihnen das Leben zur Hölle: Edge, der nicht minder heiße Volleyballpartner von Gareth.

Gareth hat jahrelange Erfahrung darin, seine Sexualität vor seinen Mitmenschen und insbesondere vor Edge, zu dem er sich schon immer hingezogen fühlte, zu verheimlichen. David ist der erste Mann, der jemals mit Edge mithalten konnte und Gareth’ Leidenschaft weckte. Umso mehr leidet Gareth unter dem ablehnenden Verhalten seines alten Freundes. Doch Edge hat auch seine Geheimnisse, und Davids Ex ist ebenfalls nicht allzu glücklich, auf seinen Prügelknaben verzichten zu müssen. Alles scheint sich gegen David verschworen zu haben. Werden sie ihr Glück finden, er und sein Alphamann? Oder gar … er und seine Alphamänner?

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Un libro della serie Il curioso ricettario di Nonna B

Tre mesi dopo aver perso i genitori in un incidente d’auto, il meteorologo di Denver Daniel Whitaker fa ritorno a Laramie, Wyoming. È già abbastanza dura dover gestire un lutto e una relazione di quasi quindici anni ormai al capolinea, e quando trova la sua casa d’infanzia piena di cianfrusaglie, Daniel si trova ancora più in difficoltà. Per sistemare il disordine, chiede l’aiuto di Landon, l’attraente vicino dei suoi genitori. Landon Kushner è una miniera di contraddizioni. Costruisce sculture eoliche servendosi di rottami metallici e ama stare all’aria aperta, ma guida anche una Vespa verde menta e ha un’affinità per il lavoro a maglia e la chiaroveggenza. È stato amico dei genitori di Daniel per anni, ed è più che disposto a dare una mano.

Il loro piano è semplice: sistemare la casa affinché Daniel possa metterla in vendita e tornare alla sua vita a Denver. Ma quando Landon entra in possesso di uno strano ricettario, Daniel inizia a rendersi conto che l’universo, e Nonna B, potrebbero avere altri piani.

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Bryan fantasme sur les cow-boys depuis toujours. Il porte même un costume que son colocataire surnomme son « piège à cow-boy » quand il va à son club préféré, dans l’espoir d’attirer l’attention d’un véritable rancher. Le jour où Curtis lui offre une bière, Bryan n’a aucun doute que ça y est, c’est le bon. Mais pourront-ils aller plus loin qu’une simple nuit de sexe incroyable une fois que Bryan aura avoué à Curtis que la seule fois où il est monté à cheval, c’était un poney à une fête d’anniversaire, quand il était gosse ?

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Contes d'un étrange livre de cuisine, numéro hors série

Boone Walton a fait de son mieux pour mettre de la distance entre son passé et lui. Il s’est investi dans sa nouvelle vie, sa galerie d’art à La Nouvelle-Orléans et son amitié avec Scott Wren. Les choses semblent enfin normales, et Boone ne pourrait pas être plus heureux.

Scott Wren, chef cuisinier, veut plus qu’une vie normale avec Boone. Il veut une vraie relation, mais Boone est terrifié – et pas à cause du fantôme qui hante l’appartement de Scott, ni même ses parents. Non, le passé de Boone s’apprête à lui rendre visite, et la seule chose qui pourrait se mettre entre Boone, Scott et la recette douteuse d’une mousse au chocolat trouvée dans un curieux livre de cuisine, serait la rivière de douleur que Boone a dû traverser pour arriver où il en est. Il y a cependant un secret derrière les ingrédients, un secret qui pourrait révéler l’amour et la confiance qui ont manqué dans la vie de Boone.

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